Signal collecting and distributing systems

ABSTRACT

Signal collecting and distributing systems wherein an active transmission line possessing neuristor characteristics is provided as a means for scanning a plurality of signal transducers, which may be in the form of radiation-sensitive elements or electroluminescent elements, respectively, to effect actuation thereof in a prescribed order.

United States Patent Inventors Priorities Jun-Ichi Nishizawa;

Ichiemon Sasaki; Katsuhiko Ishida, all of Sendai-shi; Syoji Tauchi; Takeshi Nishimura; Takeo Swki; Noboru Kozuma, all of Tokyo, Japan Feb. 15, 1967 Jan. 1 l, 1972 Semiconductor Research Foundation Kawauchi, Sendai-shi, Japan;

Hitachi, Ltd.

Tokyo, Japan Feb. 19, 1966 Japan Mar. 12, 1966, Japan, No. 41/15163; Mar. 25, 1966, Japan, No. 41/123324; Apr. 2, 1966, Japan, No. 41/20528; Apr. 25, 1966, Japan, No. 41/258911; Apr. 25, 1966, Japan, No. 41/25891; Apr. 25, 1966, Japan, N0. 41/25892 SIGNAL COLLECTING AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS 26 Claims, 36 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Marshall M. Curtis Anomeys- Paul M. Craig, Jr. and Donald R. Antonelli ABSTRACT: Signal collecting and distributing systems wherein an active transmission line possessing neuristor characteristics is provided as a means for scanning a plurality of signal transducers, which may be in the form of radiationsensitive elements or electroluminescent elements, respectively, to effect actuation thereof in a prescribed order.

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GENERATOR TRIGGER GENERATOR SIGNAL COLLECTING AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS This invention relates to signal collecting and distributing devices and more particularly to a device having functions by which a plurality of spacially distributed and arranged signal sources are selectively and successively switched and by which signals are collected into a single signal from said switched signal sources, and to a device having functions in which signals for selectively controlling operations of a plurality of spacially distributed systems to be controlled are distributed from a single composite signal.

Mechanical switches or delay lines employing means such as an electrical switch, a helix, or the like have long been used for appropriately switching a plurality of spacially distributed signal sources over to a transmission. system from which signals from said signal sources are transmitted, and for receiving and redistributing said signals to spacially distributed control systems. These means, however, are imperfect because of their lack of high-speed performance, poor signal-to-noise (S/N ratio, or complexity of construction. For these reasons said means have not yet been put to practical use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a signal collecting device by which signals delivered from large numbers of spacially distributed signal sources are simply and accurately collected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signal collecting device by which switching functions can be carried out on plural signal sources over a sufficiently long time interval using a delay system capable of delaying signals to an extent that conventional means have never achieved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signal collecting device by which switching signals for successively switching-on plural signal sources are transmitted to among plural signal sources at a constant speed and are reshaped without being attenuated. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a signal collecting device by which the signal-to-noise ratio of signals obtained from plural signal sources can be improved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a signal collecting device the construction of which is extremely compact so that integrated circuits may be incorporated into said device. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device for electrically distributing control signals simply and securely to numbers of spacially distributed controlled systems.

Another object of this invention is to. provide a device capable not only of successively switching controlled systems one after another with a sufficiently long time interval to conform to conventional standards by successively applying switching signals to the controlled systems through a delay system, but also of distributing control signals to said controlled systems in synchronism with the switching signals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signal distributing device in which switching signals for successively switching on a plurality of controlled systems are not attenuated but reshaped and successively transmitted at a constant speed to plural controlled systems in a sequential manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a markedly compact signal distributing device which will permit incorporation of integrated circuits.

For the purpose of achieving the foregoing objects, one aspect of this invention consists of a system comprising spacially distributed signal sources of a plural number; a means by which signals from said signal sources are detected; a switching means which is provided in correspondence to each of said signal sources and by which signals from said signal sources are supplied selectively to said detecting means; and a means by which signals for controlling switching operations of said switching means are transmitted to said switching means. By establishing said switching signal transmission means composed of a delay lineusing an active transmission line, a device of this invention is able to perform a constant switching operation as well as to detect simply and accurately such signals as will be exceptionally superior in teristics.

In order to further achieve the above objects, another aspect of this invention consists of a system comprising a plurality of spacially disposed controlled systems; means providing sequential control signals for controlling the operations of the controlled systems; switching means in the form of an active transmission line capable of effecting accurately timed sequential connection between said controlled systems and said means providing control signals, and means for effecting the timed operation of said switching means. The controlled systems may take the form of electroluminescent panels capable of luminescence upon application thereto of a predetermined voltage.

A transmission line possessing neuristor characteristics is known wherein a delay system in the form of an active transmission line is used. This type of transmission line is-described in the report Neuristor-A Novel Device and System Concept in the Proceeding of the IRE 1962, Vol. 50, pages 2048 through 2060. The following features of such a transmission line are described in this publication:

1. Pulse propagation velocity is always constant.

2. Self-reshaping operation on a transmission line (i.e., widthand height-reshaping on a signal determined by a circuit constant of said transmission) is performed so that the pulse waveform is reshaped to a certain constant shape.

3. Voltage pulses of less than a certain specific voltage value are damped and eliminated.

The present invention features the employment of means by which an active transmission line having features described above is used both as means to switch and supply signals delivered from said plural signal sources to aforementioned detecting means and also control the application of said signals to corresponding ones of distributed control systems.

Objects heretofore described and other additional objects and advantages will become clear from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the conventional signal collecting device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention;

FIGS. 3a to 3d inclusive, illustrate embodiments of the invention based on the principles described in connection with the block diagram of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4a to 40 show other embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5a shows an equivalent circuit providing a description of principles of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5b shows an exemplary construction of an active transmission line which is a componentof FIG. 50;

FIGS. 6a and 7 show integrated constructions in which the principles shown in connection with the system of FIG. 5a is employed;

FIG. 6b is a section of the construction of FIG. 6a taken along line 6b-6b;

FIG. 60 shows a circuit arrangement of a trigger distribution circuit used in FIG. 6a;

FIGS. 8a to 8d show sections of an integrated construction relating to the circuit shown in FIG. 3b;

FIG. 8e and 8f show sections of other integrated constructions;

FIG. 9 is a schematic showing of a conventional signal distributing device;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for illustrating the principle of this invention;

FIGS. Ila to 11d inclusive are circuit compositions ofthe block diagram shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12a is another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12b is waveforms of voltage pulse appearing in the circuit shown in FIG. 12a;

vsignal-to-noise charac- FIG. 13a is an equivalent circuit diagram of another embodiment of this invention for explaining the principle thereof;

FIG. 13b is a concrete circuit composition of an active transmission line which is a component of FIG. 13a;

FIG. 14a is an example of another embodiment operating in accordance with the principle illustrated in FIG. 13a and FIG. 14b schematically illustrates a trigger distribution circuit for use in FIG. 14a;

FIG. 15:: is a further embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 15b is a sectional view shown along a line l5bl5b in FIG. 150;

FIG. 16 is an additional panel construction in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a fundamental configuration of an image pickup device used as a conventional signal collecting device. A plurality of lateral and longitudinal transparent conductive bands 12 and 12', respectively, provided with a plurality of elements 13 located at the points of apparent intersection between the two conductive bands and responsive radiation are arranged in a matrix of n lines and m rows on a base panel 11. Selector switches 14 and 14', respectively, are provided for the switching of the lateral and longitudinal conductors. A DC power source 15 and a detector 17 are connected in series to the selector switches 14 and 14 to provide a plurality of detector circuits for detecting radiation from input rays 16.

The image pickup device composed in the manner mentioned above causes each of the ray-sensitive elements to vary its resistance value according to the intensity of the rays 16 to which it is subjected. Under this condition, when the conductor selector switches 14 and 14' connected in series to common ray-sensitive elements are switched successively, each ray-sensitive element on base panel 11 is scanned and signals corresponding to the intensity of incident rays can be obtained on detector 17. Said rays generally consist of rays of visible light, heat rays or X-rays.

A noticeable problem with the image pickup device of the type described in connection with FIG. 1 lies in the conductor selector switches 14 and 14. In other words, a selector switch of high speed must be provided if each ray-sensitive element on base panel 11 is to be scanned. And further, signal-to-noise characteristics of the signals obtained from said device must be considered as a serious problem. These problems have long been recognized as a major obstruction against realization of a successful practical application of such image pickup device.

A mechanical switch such as a relay, has hitherto been used for a conductor selector switch with known arrangements, but without acceptable results. The mechanical switch has sufficiently good signal-to-noise characteristics; however, it can be of only little practical value when considering its mechanical complexity and the difficulties encountered not only in lowering its cost of manufacture and in constructing it into a compact size, but also in extending its service life, and particularly in achieving high-speed operation. Besides the mechanical switch, electrical switches incorporating photoconductive cells wherein ON-OFF action is obtained by means of light have been used. This type of switch, however, has the disadvantage of poor signal-to-noise characteristics. There is also a method using a delay line as a means to control the scanning pulses by which each sensitive element on base panel 11 is scanned. This method, however, has little practical value in view of the available delay time provided by most delay lines. It is noted that delay time of a delay line is normally 2 to 3 microseconds per meter; whereas, a scanning from the left end tp the right end of the face plate of a television, for example, in accordance with accepted standards requires a velocity of approximately 64 microseconds. To attain such a delay time, a considerably long delay must be provided. This is the reason why the above-mentioned method using a delay line has not been practicable to date.

What is described above is an example of the conventional defects inherent in known image pickup devices. Generally, it can be said that known devices which are to perform switching operations successively on plural signal sources will have one or more of the defects mentioned above. Further details of the present invention which solves this problem will now be described.

In FIG. 2, a switching control system is provided including delay systems a,, a ,...a,, in the form of active transmission lines connected to signal sources b,, b,,,...b,,. A switching signal 21 is applied to the control system by which said signal sources are properly switched from one to another successively. A detector 22 is provided at the output of the system by which signals delivered from said signal sources are detected.

Operation of the above system is as follows:

Assume that switching signal 21 is transmitted to signal source b, through delay line a, whereby signal source b is switched on. By this operation a signal from signal source b, is detected at detector 22. At this time signal sources b ...b,, are not switched on due to the presence of delay system a; and, therefore, no other signals are detected at detector 22 at this time. Then, switching signal 21 after a delay time determined by delay system a, will switch on signal source b At this time, because the signal sources other than signal source b are not operated upon by the switching signal, detector 22 detects only the signal from signal source b Thus, signals from the signal sources are successively detected by detector 22 at intervals determined by the delay times of delay systems a,, a ,...a,,. By this operation, in effect, the signal sources b through b, are successively scanned by each applied switching signal 21 so that the state thereof or information stored therein or other data is sequentially applied to detector 22.

FIG. 3a illustrates a circuit arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention utilizing the principles described in connection with FIG. 2, where a a ,...a,, represent active transmission lines (corresponding in function to the delay systems a a,, in FIG. 2) consisting of parallel circuits each comprising an inductance element L, a capacitive element C and negative resistance element D (e.g., a tunnel diode). These circuits a, through a are connected respectively in the form of a T-shaped transmission element with one-half of each inductance L serving as the series input and output elements and the capacitor C and diode D serving as the parallel element thereof. Signal sources b 11,...b, are composed, for example, of ray-sensitive signal elements 34 to which transistor switches TRS TRS ..TRS,, are respectively connected in series. A switching signal generator 31 is connected to the input of the line to the parallel transmission circuits, a signal detector 32 is connected to the output of each of the transistor switches, and a matched impedance element 33 by which reflection of switching signals is prevented is connected in parallel with the last of the transmission circuits a,,.

Switching signals delivered from the switching signal generator 31 are delayed in the manner previously described, through the active transmission lines composed of a a ,...a,,, so as to be transmitted at a constant propagation velocity from switching signal generator 31 to reflection preventing matched impedance element 33. When a switching signal is transmitted to active transmission line element 0,, the base of transistor 'I'RS of signal source b is made positive, and said transistor switch TRS becomes conductive. The resistance value, for example, of ray-sensitive element b,, which is to serve as a signal source, is changed according to the intensity of the rays to which it is subjected. This change in resistance is transformed into a change of current with the operation of switching transistor TRS and detected at signal detector 32. A switching signal is then transmitted to active transmission line a whereby transistor switch TRS connected to ray-sensitive element 11 is made conductive and the signal from raysensitive element b 2 is detected at signal detector 32. By the same process, transistor switches TRS TRS ,...TRS,, are successively made conductive and signals are obtained successively from the ray-sensitive elements b b b, associated therewith. Besides ray-sensitive elements, other elements may be used as a signal source, such as electrically responsive, magnetically responsive or various other types of energy responsive elements.

Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 3a, the intensity of energy detected by elements b through 1),, is determined by the magnitude of the current capable of passing therethrough, and samples of these currents are obtained by a successive operation of transistor switches TRS, through TRS,, by a switching signal propagating in the active transmission line. The resulting signal detected by detector 32 will have a sequentialvariation in amplitude corresponding to the intensity of the sequential samples of energy detected by elements b, through b,,.

FIG. 3b provides a variation of the system of FIG. 3a, which uses active transmission lines a,, a,,...a,, only as switching signal transmission lines and provides transistor switches TRS TRS ,...TRS,, to perform the switching function. In contrast, in FIG. 3b, the ground wire of the active transmission line is utilized as one of the lines on which signals from signal sources (e.g., photodiodes b b ,...b,,) are transmitted. In this way, the active transmission line serves to perform the switching operation as well as to convey switching signals. For example, a switching signal applied to the active transmission line consisting of elements a through a, will switch the diodes D of each element to the conductive state in successive order. Then, by using diodes b through 12,, of the transducer type, i.e., signal elements which will generate a current in response to receipt of illumination, a circuit containing a respective signal generator b through b,, will be completed from ground through detector 32, the generator b, the corresponding diode D connected thereto, and back to ground. Of course, diodes 12 through b could also be of the variable impedance type without change in the circuit operation if a voltage bias source is provided, for example, in series with detector 32. Thus, in this embodiment the active transmission elements a through a,, serve to delay the switching signal and also switch the signal generators.

FIG. 30 is amodification of the embodiment of FIG. 3b. Similar reference designations as used in FIG. 3b are provided in FIG. 3c wherever possible to designate similar elements. A conductor wire 38 or similar element is provided to which the active transmission line and the signal transmission line are connected. In this scheme a switching signal is transmitted on an active transmission line and, at the same time, said switching signal is detected at the signal detector 32. Consequently, the switching signal thus detected at signal detector 32 can be synchronizing signal which has a certain constant relation to the resulting signals from signal sources b b ,...b,, and may, for example, serve as an indication of the beginning of each scan of the photodiodes. For this reason, switching signals in the above operation are exceptionally suitable for use as the synchronizing signal required for the scanning in television or for the timing pulse in pulse transmission.

When the signal sources b b b, are arranged in a planer matrix form and radioactive ray-sensitive signal elements 34 are composed of photoconductive elements (e.g., a photodiode) and further, when optical images are focused on a face of said matrix and each photoconductive element is scanned successively by a switching signal, a video signal can be obtained at signal detector 32. This particular scheme, therefore, makes it possible to accomplish a relatively simple and efficient image pickup device.

For the ray-sensitive signal element serving as the signal source, a thermosensitive element (e.g., thermistor, semiconductor, etc.), a pressure-sensitive element (e.g., a pressure is applied to the emitter junction of transistor, piezoresistance element, etc.), a magnetic field sensitive element (e.g., Hall element, magnetic reluctance element, magnetic permeability responsive element, etc.), a storage element or other energy responsive device may be used. By the use of these different kinds of signal sources, the spacially distributed value of various kinds of energy can be measured. The signal detector used there is not limited to use as a measuring instrument, but may obviously act as a means of connection to transmitters, such as used for television and other systems. Note, there is no difference between said measuring instrument and said transmitter means with regard to their operations.

When an active transmission line-is formed in a circular shape, as illustrated in FIG. 3d, and a switching signal is propagated along the circular transmission line, the time required for one complete circuit of the line is constant and very accurate, being determined by circuit constant s of the line. Therefore, if a given point p is selected on the circular line, it becomes possible to measure a value, such as, illumination, temperature, etc., at saidpoint at constant and very accurate time intervals.

In this way it also becomes possible by applying a continuous signal representing, for example, continuous variation in temperature, etc., to such a circular transmission line to obtain accurately spaced samples of the continuous signal due to the periodic switching of the line. That is, if the continuous signal is applied to a given point on the circular transmission line, the circulating switching pulse will extract a sample from the signal once during each complete circuit of the line. Thus, accurately spaced sampling of the signal can be accomplished.

When an active transmission line is disposed in the direction to which electromagnetic wave or radioactive ray energy is permeant, the depth of permeance of the energy into the medium and changes in intensity due to the permeant depth can be determined simply and accurately. For example, if the depth of energy penetration in a substance is to be determined, samplings of energy intensity can be taken at various depths and applied to spaced points on a circular transmission line in the direction of propagation of the switching pulse therein. A signal will then be derived from the transmission line providing an accurate representation of the depth of energy penetration.

FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. Several embodiments of the present invention are presented above in which a switching signal is transmitted via an active transmission line and plural signal sources are switched by said switching signal thereby deriving signals from the signal sources in a predetermined progressive order. In these embodiments, the method employed is based upon the fact that the impedance of the elements of the active transmission line or the impedance of the signal source is changed by light, pressure or heat. For example, when a pressure is applied to Esaki diode D in the circuit of FIG. 4a from pressure terminal 42, the magnitude of the switching signals being propagated down the line is changed. This difference is amplified at transistor 41 which is also rendered conductive by the switching signal and can be detected at signal detector 32. In other words, the switching signal applied to the active transmission line from signal generator 31 performs two functions. First it serves to sequentially operate the transistors 41 as it propagates down the transmission line establishing a circuit in each case from ground through a current source, such as battery B, the detector 32, and a transistor 41 to ground. Of course, the magnitude of the current through the detector 32 will depend on the magnitude of the switching signal applied to transistor 41, so the second function of the switching signal is to regulate the signai current in accordance with the control provided by diodes D in the transmission line. An important feature of the transmission line is the fact that it has reshaping properties which enable attenuationless propagation down the line. Thus, as the switching signal is altered by each diode D in succession, it is reshaped by the line before passing to the next stage. In this embodiment the signal control element is not always limited to a diode D, but may also consist of an element such as a condenser or coil fonning a part of the active transmission line, if its capacity or inductance is controllable by radioactive rays, pressure or heat.

Active transmission lines a,, a ,...a,, as utilized in accordance with the present invention may be used as lines by which switching signals are propagated but they may also be used as signal elements utilizing their waveform reshaping properties as indicated above. Therefore, active transmission lines 0,, a ,...a,, and signal sources b b ,...b,, can be used in combination as signal detecting means. In the embodiment of FIG. 4b, it is possible to control delay characteristics of signal transmission lines from the signal sources. In this case the delay time of the active transmission line is added to the delay time of the signal transmission line provided by inductive delay elements L and, in consequence, the resulting transmission line can become a transmission line which apparently possesses a longer delay time than the addition of the delays which the two transmission lines possess individually.

Also, as indicated in connection with FIG. 4c, logic operation is readily possible at the same time that signal detection is performed; for example, in the case of an AND circuit or an OR circuit such may be accomplished by a proper means such as correspondingly changing the circuit structure or characteristics of the electric negative resistance element. For example, when the bias of an active transmission line is set at a certain suitable value and the switching signal is applied to both ends of the active transmission line, the switching signals thus applied collide with each other and are destroyed at the point of collision. This means that the electric negative resistance element being energized does not respond to signals until it is restored to a normal condition. In other words, the signal applied in said manner is not amplified but attenuated. For this reason it is necessary to set the bias at a proper value and to place said attenuated signal in the region of amplification of the electric negative resistance element if the attenuated signal is to be reamplified. If the value of the bias is below a certain limit, said attenuated signal is further attenuated to the point where it is destroyed. When the voltage current characteristics at both sides of the collision point of the electric negative resistance element are differentiated and the bias voltage is set so that one of the two colliding signals is destroyed but the other is not destroyed, the signal is propagated in one direction after occurrence of the collision. This is defined as NAND operation. In the condition where an active transmission line is held in the form of a Y-shaped circuit, even where switching signals are delivered from either one of the two terminals, the signal is carried to the other terminal. From this fact, it is noted that the Y-shaped circuit acts to operate as OR circuit.

FIG. 5a illustrates a circuit exhibiting principles upon which another embodiment of the present invention is based, and FIG. 5b shows one example of the manner in which this circuit may be constructed. Ray-sensitive signal element 51 is shown schematically in FIG. 5a with its internal equivalent resistance per unit length 51. An active transmission line 52 possessing neuristor characteristics (Refer to A Neuristor Realization" appearing in the Proceeding of the IEEE, May 1964, pages 618 to 619) is associated with the ray-sensitive signal element 51. The element 53 is a DC power source, the element 54 is a detector, and the elements 55 are trigger input terminals (control signal input terminals) for triggering the active transmission line 52.

The composition of the active transmission line 52 will now be described by referring to FIG. 5b. Minute ohmic contacts 57 and 57 are located in lines in such a manner that corresponding ones of the contacts 57 and 57' form an operational pair. For example, pairs are formed by 57 with 57,, 57 with 57 ,...S7,, with 57,, and additionally a pair is formed between the individual ohmic contacts 57 and 57 and the mesa or planer part 58 which is of a particular conductivity type (e.g., N-type) and is of an inverse type to base body 56 whose upper portion above the mesa parts 58 may, for example, be doped so as to be ray sensitive. Thus, by the use of a pair of ohmic contacts 57, and 57, and mesa part 58,, a double base diode results in having one portion which is ray sensitive. In accordance with the invention a voltage is supplied from DC power source 53 to the pairs of ohmic contacts 57 and 57 of each double base diode. Still further, an operating trigger pulse is supplied to the portion located between mesa part 58 and the ohmic contact 57 of the first double base diode located at one extreme end of active transmission line 52; while, mesa parts 58 58 -,,...58, of the double base diode located at said one end are connected by a common wire. Still further, a bias voltage is applied via ground between said other mesa parts and the ohmic contact of the base.

In the embodiment thus described, when a trigger pulse is applied to said first double base diode, current flows between ohmic contacts 57 and 57, in accordance with the operating characteristics of the double base diode. This operation serves to trigger the second double base diode adjacent to said first double base diode which is composed of ohmic contacts 57,, 57 and mesa part 58 after a certain specific delay time which is determined according to shape, dimensions, materials, etc. of the active transmission line. In this manner, operation is repeated at spaced intervals to trigger one double base diode after another whereby switching signals are propagated down the transmission line at a controlled rate without attenuation.

In FIG. 5a, since the internal resistance 51 of each corresponding portion of radioactive ray-sensitive signal element 51 changes according to the quantity of input radioactive rays received thereby, signal current passing between a pair ofcontacts corresponding to the quantity of input radioactive rays is detected by detector 54 if the double base diode associated with the portion of the radioactive ray-sensitive signal element 51 to be detected is in operation. Therefore, by physically arranging said radioactive ray-sensitive element 51 in a matrix form and by scanning the faceplate of the matrix with a switching signal in the manner to repeat in order the line scanning of the radioactive ray-sensitive elements which are aligned, a radioactive ray diagram can easily be converted into an electrical signal. This is one of the most useful features which the image pickup device possesses.

FIG. 6a shows an integrated panel construction partially cut away based on the operating principle illustrated in FIG. 5a. FIG. 6b is a sectional view of FIG. 6a taken along line 6b6b. In the Figures element 61 is a transparent insulator, element 62 is a transparent conductive electrode, element 63 is a raysensitive layer, elements 64 are semiconductive elements (e.g., N-type) embedded in a semiconductor layer 65 (e.g., P- type silicon), layer 66 is a conductive electrode and layer 67 is an insulator. The portion of the panel consisting of elements 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 corresponds to a plurality of the arrangements shown in FIG. 5a integrated into a panel construction. The strips 70 serve as an insulating area by which plural active transmission lines installed in a plane are electrically isolated from each other. A conductive wire 71 is provided, as shown in FIG. 6b, by which trigger pulses are applied to one end of the first semiconductor elements 64, and a common wire 72 is connected to the other elements 64 thereby applying bias thereto from battery 53. The layer 73 is an insulating film (e.g., SiO provided between the common wire 72 and semiconductor layer 65. An image signal detector 54 is connected between layer 66 and power source 53 thereby detecting signals obtained by scanning a determined portion of the image faceplate. A trigger generator 69 by which operating trigger pulses are generated in said plural active transmission lines is connected to a trigger distributing circuit 68 by which said trigger pulse is distributed and applied to a plurality of active transmission lines. This distributing circuit 68 can be composed, as indicated in FIG. 60, of delay lines consisting of capacitors C and inductances L which will propagate a switching signal at a desired rate. In the above-mentioned arrangement, an operation for converting a radioactive ray diagram into an electrical signal can easily be achieved by repeating line scanning in an orderly manner on the faceplate 61 of the panel in the manner previously described in connection with FIG. 5a. Note that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6a, because the composition is such that a scanning means is combined together with an image faceplate, the construction can be made markedly compact and, by the aid of integrated circuit technique, it can easily be manufactured.

The operation of the arrangement of FIG. 6a is as follows: a radiation image pattern formed by rays 16 passes through the transparent faceplate 61 and transparent conductor 62 so as to irradiate ray-sensitive layer 63 providing a variation in the impedance of the material of layer 63 from point to point in accordance with the radiation pattern received. Thus, the impedance between the conductive layer 62 and the individual semiconductive elements 64, which impedance corresponds to the impedance 51 in FIG. a, varies in accordance with the incident radiation on that portion of layer 63. The semiconductive elements 6% correspond to the mesa parts 58 in FIG. 5a and the conductive layers 62 and 66 in contact with the semiconductor layer 65 provide for connection of the DC voltage from source 53 across the mesa parts 58 performing the function of the ohmic contacts 57 and 57' to thereby establish a series of double diodes across the panels. Thus with application of a trigger pulse to the panel via the first line 71 from the distributor 68, a switching pulse will be propagated across the upper portion of the panel separated by insulating strip 70 at a constant rate without attenuation and the variation in impedance in the layer 63 between the conductive layers 62 and 65 in the area rendered conductive by the propagating switching signal will be detected as changes in current level by detector 54. The distributor 68 is designed to have a delay time such that a trigger pulse is applied to a succeeding line 71 at the time that the propagating switching pulse in the panel reaches the end of its path. In this way, successive scanning of each line is accomplished with accuracy.

FIG. 7 is another panel construction based on the principles described in connection with FIG. 5a. FIG. 6a shows a multilayer panel-type construction while FIG. 7 shows an embodiment wherein band-shaped ray-sensitive elements 63 and active transmission lines 65 are alternately arranged in a plane. The operating functions for this embodiment are exactly the same as those for the embodiment shown in FIG. 6; however, in this embodiment, a highly resistant material such as antimony sulfide (Sb S may be used for the radioactive raysensitive element 63. By the use of antimony sulfide, storing effects can be produced, as a result of which, an image pickup device of exceptionally high sensitivity can be built.

With regard to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3b, an exemplary construction in which a photodiode and an active transmission line are associated into one body will now be described with reference to FIGS. 80 through 8d. FIG. 8a shows a partial sectional view of a structure arranged in the form of another panel construction incorporating photodiodes into plural active transmission lines. In this embodiment, some impurities are doped into a semiconductor base to form regions such as P-regions 81 and N-regions 82 between which grooves 83 are formed by a suitable process such as cutting, thereby isolating the PN-junctions from one another. Electrode 85 is mounted on each individual P-region 81 and in like manner electrodes 86 and 87 are mounted on respective N-regions 82 separated by a groove 84. Further, by controlling the concentration of said impurities, negative resistance diode D is formed between electrodes 85 and 86, and photodiode PD is formed between electrodes 85 and 87. Meanwhile, the groove 84 provides high resistance so that photodiode PD is isolated from negative resistance diode D which is formed on N-region 82. Negative resistance diode D has capacitance C; while, by forming the electrodes to a certain suitable shape (e.g., bent line) such as illustrated in FIGS. 80 and 811, as indicated in connection with electrode 85', an appropriate inductance is obtained. By the abovementioned construction, a switching signal transmission line is formed between electrodes 85 and 86 and a structure in which a combination of signal transmission lines and photodiodes is formed between electrodes 85 and 87.

By referring to FIG. 3b, it is apparent that the construction of FIG. 8a can be connected electrically to correspond to this circuit. For example, as seen in FIG. 8b, the contacts 86 forming one free end of diodes D can be connected to ground and the contacts 87 forming one free end of photodiodes PD (corresponding to diodes 12 through b, in FIG. 3b) can be connected to a signal detector. The contacts 85 form the junction between the diodes D and the photodiodes PD and therefore upon being connected together, a switching signal can be applied thereto for propagation down the line. The insulating strips 89 divide the panel into a plurality of lines to which switching signals can be applied in timed sequence much in the same manner and by similar means as the distributing trigger arrangement 68 described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 6a.

Further, said structure makes it possible to form crystals on a structure which is provided in the manner that insulation material or metal or other suitable substances are set in stripes or other suitable forms on a base made up of an insulation material or transparent panel or semitransparent panel, or semiconductor, etc.

FIGS. 8e and 8f show other embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 8e, elements 88 represent structures where regions are isolated from each other by insulators or PN-junctions or the like and are used as a base panel on which crystals are formed to compose negative resistance diode D or photodiode PD. FIG. 8f shows a structure where electrode and negative resistance diode D or photodiode PD are formed in a common plane. Inductance L can be increased when bent wire is used for electrode formation or when the electrode is coated with a thin magnetic film. Also, capacity C can be increased by interposing a material of large dielectric constant between the electrode and the base plate.

The above examples represent cases where negative resistance diode D or photodiode PD are separately formed. Besides said cases, other constructions can be obtained by such procedures as putting the two elements in layers. Namely, negative resistance diode D is grown between a base plate and a first growing layer, and photodiode PD is formed between a first growing layer and a second growing layer. Needless to say, these elements may becomposed in a dotted form or strip form, in multiple layers. For said element formation, there are available various kinds of crystal semiconductor material such as simplex semiconductors (e.g., germani um, silicon) and semiconductor compound (e.g., GaAs; GaP), or a combination of these elements. Above mentioned embodiments can easily be accomplished by the use of integrated circuit techniques, and in addition, they can be constructed to be markedly compact and the resulting device can be exceptionally reliable.

As described above, the present invention utilizes an active transmission line which has neuristor characteristics, operated as a switching signal transmission line. As a result, the transmission velocity is always kept constant and, since switching signals are transmitted after waveform reshaping within the line itself, erroneous operation can be eliminated. In addition, as previously described with reference to operation of active transmission lines, the signal-to-noise ratio is distinctively good. This is because all parts other than those in operation are maintained in a cutoff state. Further, since the switching system of this invention has no mechanically moving parts, such as the mechanical switching means used theretofore, but is operated electrically, its structure is simple and its service life is long. And further, by the use of said active transmission line, far longer delay time (per unit length) can be obtained that that obtainable with the conventional delay line. Especially, in an active transmission line whose composition is shown in FIG. 5a, delay time per unit length can be extended to a remarkably great extend. Practically, when a distance between mesa parts 58 is made 2 mm., a resulting delay time can become as long as lOO/sec.

It will be understood that because of the features heretofore described the active transmission line of this invention serves to solve a problem which has long been considered impossible to overcome.

It is to be noted that an active transmission line possessing said features is utilized as an essential factor for the embodiment of a signal collecting device which forms a part of the present invention. The system described heretofore relates to what is called a signal collecting device, the function of which is to detect signals independently or in relation to time order by means of a signal detector, where spacially distributed quantities such as radioactive ray, electromagnetic field, heat, or the like quantities are used as signal sources. However, said device is not confined to that described abovebut, for example, by letting said signal sources act as a system to be controlled and also by letting said signal detector act as a control signal source, said device can be operated as a signal distributing device. The details of such a complementary device are described below. By the use of these two devices in combination and by conducting proper switching operations, what is called A Signal Distributing and Collecting Device" can be obtained whereby the functions of the two are collectively rovided in an overall system.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a signal distributing device of known construction utilizing electroluminescent techniques is illustrated. A number of conductive bands 112 and 113 are deposited or otherwise formed in parallel in a mutually orthogonal arrangement on respective sides of an electroluminescent panel 111. As is well known to those familiar with electroluminescent techniques, the application of a voltage, for example, from signal source 116, to a selected one of each of the lines 112 and 113, will result in a luminescing of the panel 111 in the area of the apparent crossover of the lines 112 and 113, and the lighted portion can be made to scan the entire surface of the panel 111 by selectively switching the signal source 116 from one to another of the conductive bands 112 and 113 in a timed sequential manner. When such an arrangement is proposed for use as a television viewing device, for example, the horizontal and vertical scanning time as controlled by the voltage distributing circuits 114 and 115, respectively, is determined by the standards accepted by the industry. Thus, by providing proper control over the switching of the lines 112 and 113 a viewing raster of visible light can be produced on the electroluminescent plate 111. As the spot of light produced at the point of apparent crossover of selective lines 112 and 113 is caused to sweep back and forth across the plate. The brightness of the luminescence produced on the plate 111, as is known, corresponds to the magnitude of the intensity of the given scanning voltage, for example, such as provided by signal source 116. Thus, the above-mentioned raster produced on the surface of the plate 111 can be transformed into an image pattern by selectively modulating the voltage applied from signal source 116 to the various lines 112 and 113 in accordance with the pattern which is to be reproduced.

While the possibilities of a display device such as described above in connection with FIG. 9 has been known for some time, serious difficulties have been encountered in connection with proper control of the switching operation as performed by the voltage distributing devices 114 and 115. In order to scan the conductive bands 112 and 113 on the electroluminescent panel 111, a high-speed switching device is required. Mechanical switching devices were proposed for such a task; however, these mechanical components lack the high-speed performance in the stability and dependability of operation which is required for such a system. In addition, for apparent reasons, mechanical switching arrangements are necessarily of undesirably large size and complexity.

Delay lines have also been proposed as switching signal distributing means, as indicated above in connection with the signal collecting device of the present invention; however, the long delayed time required, for example, by the television industry, could not be produced by the ordinary delay line of sufficiently small size to be practically utilized in connection with such a system.

Another attempt to provide a satisfactory switching signal distributing means is based upon the use of photoconductive cells which are switched on and off by means of light beams. However, in such an arrangement, the inherent characteristics of the photoconductive cells make it impossible to achieve complete cutoff of the cells since the operation of the cell relies upon a change in internal resistance corresponding to the intensity of the received illumination. The result is inaccurate and undependable operation of the switching control.

It is therefore proposed in accordance with the present invention that the aforementioned active transmission line having ncuristor characteristics is utilized to perform the switching function for the signal distributing system.

FIG. 10 provides an active transmission line similar to that disclosed in connection with FIG. 2, but with the exception that the signal elements b through b, are systems to be controlled by application of a control signal from source 122 connected thereto. As in the previous embodiment, a switching signal 121 is applied to a series of delay systems a through a,, which form the active transmission line for control of the systems b, through b,,.

The operation of the system of FIG. 10 is as follows:

When the switching signal 121 is applied to the controlled system b through the delay systems a thereby switching on the system b,, the latter system is then controlled in its operation by the voltage supplied by control signal generator 122. At this particular time, the system b through [2,, are not controlled by the output of generator 122 because the switching signal 121 has not as yet propagated sufficiently down the delay line to switch these systems to the operating state. After a delay time determined by the delay of system 0 the system b is then switched on by the switching signal 121 and the voltage from control generator 122 is applied in control of this system. Once again, only the system is operated at this time since the switching signal 121 is no longer available to the system 12 and has not as yet propagated sufficiently down the transmission line to reach the remaining systems.

FIG. 11a discloses an embodiment of the present invention utilizing an active transmission line such as disclosed in connection with FIG. 10 consisting of a plurality of active transmission elements a,, a ,...a,,, each consisting of series input and output inductances and a parallel combination consisting of a negative resistance diode, for example, a tunnel diode and a capacitor C formed into a transmission element of T shape. The signal elements 12 b ,...b,, are systems to be controlled and may take the form of electroluminescent elements capable of being luminesced when a voltage is applied thereto. These controlled systems are respectively connected to transistor switches TRS through TRS, between a source of voltage B and a signal generator 131 via diode 137. The signal generator 131, which generates both a switching signal and the control signals necessary for proper control of the elements b, through b,,, is also connected through a diode 137' to the input of the active transmission line. The diode 137' is poled in such a manner that the switching signal S from the generator 131, which is a positive signal, will pass only to the active transmission line, and the diode 137 is poled so that the control signals C, which are negative signals, will pass from generator 131 only to the transistors TRS through TRS,,.

As indicated in connection with FIG. 10, the switching signal S supplied by generator 131 to the input of the active transmission line in FIG. 11a will propagate down the transmission line at a constant speed and without attenuation and will ultimately be absorbed in matched impedance element 132. As the switching signal S propagates down the transmission line, it will successively and at accurately timed intervals operate the transistors TRS. The control signals C provided by the signal generator 131 are separated by a time interval corresponding to the delay time between each of the active elements a through a,, in the active transmission line, so that as each of the transistors TRS through TRS,, are operated by the switching signal S propagating down the active transmission line, the appropriate control signal C corresponding to the individual controlled element b through b, will be supplied at the junction A by the generator 131. The signal produced by the generator 131 may, for example, be the same signal which is detected by the signal detector provided in the signal collecting system, such as disclosed, for example, in connection with FIG. 30. In this way, the proper spacing of the control signals C for application to the individual signal elements b through 17,, is assured.

Since the signal elements b through 17,, will be energized to a different intensity depending upon the magnitude of the control signals C applied thereto, it is apparent that a collection of these luminescent devices controlled in the manner indicated in connection with FIG. 11a can be made to produce an image 

1. A switching control system comprising: an active transmission line which comprises a plurality of negative resistance elements, a signal transmission path having at least one input terminal and a plurality of output terminals which are disposed in spaced relation from each other along said transmission path with said transmission path providing a predetermined time delay between said output terminals, and said negative resistance elements being coupled to said signal transmission path at the respective output terminals, respectively, so as to be disposed in spaced relation along the transmission path, and bias means connected to said transmission line for normally biasing said plurality of negative resistance elements to nonoperative states; a plurality of signal elements each connected to respective output terminals; generator means connected to said input terminal for applying switching signals thereto, so that the switching signal is transmitted along said signal tRansmission path with a predetermined time delay but reshaped during its transmission along the transmission line and appears sequentially at said output terminals in a substantially unattenuated form, said reshaped switching signal being capable of switching said signal elements to their operative states, whereby said signal elements are rendered operative in said sequential order; and detecting means coupled in common to said signal elements for detecting the operative states of said signal elements.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said active transmission line comprises a plurality of transmission elements connected in series to each other, each transmission element consisting of a T-shaped four-terminal network having series input and output inductance elements serving as series elements thereof and a parallel circuit of a capacitive element and said negative resistance element serving as a parallel element thereof, said parallel circuit being connected to a junction between the input and output inductance elements, and wherein said output terminals are provided at the junctions of the respective transmission elements.
 3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said transmission line is formed into a circular shape having its end terminal connected to its input terminal.
 4. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said signal elements are radiation-sensitive devices, and said detecting means is commonly connected to said radiation-sensitive devices for detecting variations in current therethrough.
 5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said radiation-sensitive devices are variable impedance devices.
 6. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said radiation-sensitive devices are transducers capable of generating a current in response to irradiation.
 7. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said radiation-sensitive devices are composed of high-resistance materials.
 8. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said signal elements are arranged in a pattern of orthogonal rows and columns forming an image pickup face.
 9. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises a plurality of transistor amplifiers biased normally to the cutoff state, each amplifier being connected in circuit with a signal element and having its control electrode connected to a respective output terminal of said transmission line, said reshaped switching signal having an amplitude sufficient to operate said transistor amplifiers.
 10. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said signal elements are radiation-sensitive transducers.
 11. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said signal elements are radiation-sensitive transducers connected at one end thereof directly to said respective output terminals of said transmission line, and said detecting means is commonly connected to the other end of said transducers for detecting variations in current therethrough.
 12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein the output of said generator means is also connected directly to the input of said detecting means.
 13. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said switching control system is formed as a block of semiconductor material of first conductivity type, first and second ohmic contacts disposed in linear fashion adjacent respective longitudinal edges of said block and connected to one another in first and second lines, respectively, and plural mesa parts of semiconductor material of conductivity opposite said first type disposed in a third line parallel to said first and second lines at the middle of said block, said bias means being provided as a voltage source connected across said first and second lines, said bias voltage source being connected to all but an end one of said mesa parts, said generator means being connected between said one mesa part and said second line of ohmic contacts, said signal elements being formed as radiation responsive variable impedance material disposed iN said block between each of said first ohmic contacts and a corresponding mesa part.
 14. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said generator means is connected to both ends of said transmission line.
 15. A switching control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal elements and said active transmission line are formed by a transducer panel comprising a first conductive layer, a transducer layer mounted on said first transparent conductive layer and having the property of converting one form of energy to another, a semiconductive layer of one conductivity type having a plurality of semiconductive elements of another conductivity type embedded therein and disposed in linear spaced relation across one face thereof in contact with said transducer layer and insulator regions embedded therein and disposed between the respective lines of the semiconductive elements and a second contactive layer mounted on opposite face of said semiconductive layer, in which said transducer layer serves as the plurality of the signal elements arranged in correspondence to a pattern of distribution of the semiconductive elements in the semiconductive layer and said first conductive layer, said semiconductive layer with said semiconductive elements and said second conductive layer serve as a plurality of the active transmission lines; said biasing means being comprised by a source of bias voltage for applying a first bias voltage between said first and second conductive layers and for applying a second bias voltage between said conductive layers and all but the first semiconductive element in each line of the semiconductive elements embedded in said semiconductive layer; and said generator means applying a switching signal to said first semiconductive elements in each line of the semiconductive elements in a prescribed time sequence, so that, said switching signal is transmitted on said active transmission lines to actuate said transducer layer at one portion to another corresponding to the semiconductive elements; and said detecting means being coupled in series with said source of the bias voltage between said first and second conductive layers for operatively detecting the level of current therebetween.
 16. The combination defined in claim 15 wherein said transducer layer is comprised of radiation-sensitive material capable of converting radiation into an electrical current.
 17. The combination defined in claim 15, wherein said generator means includes a delay line and a pulse generator for generating pulse outputs as the switching signals, said first semiconductive elements being connected at spaced points along said delay line and said pulse generator being connected between one end of said delay line and said second conductive layer.
 18. A switching control system comprising: a transducer panel comprised by first and second contiguous layers of semiconductor material of opposite conductivity type, a plurality of first parallel-spaced grooves entirely through said first layer to divide into first blocks thereof a plurality of second parallel-spaced grooves substantially through said second layer and substantially in alignment with said first grooves, a plurality of third parallel-spaced grooves entirely through said second layer and disposed alternately with respect to said second grooves to form second and third spaced blocks of the second layer in contact with each of said first blocks, and electrical contacts secured to said first, second and third blocks, respectively, and first and second layers being so doped as to provide negative resistance characteristics in the area between said first and second blocks and as to provide energy transducing properties in the area between said first and third blocks; a signal transmission path with a property of providing a predetermined time delay on a signal transmitting therealong; a switching signal generator for applying a switching signal between contacts on said first blOcks blocks and the contacts on said second blocks; a source of bias voltage for supplying a bias voltage between the contacts on said first blocks and the contacts on said third blocks, whereby a plurality of negative resistance semiconductor elements are comprised by the first blocks and second blocks, and a plurality of signal elements are comprised by the first blocks and third blocks and the switching signal generated by said switching signal generator is reshaped by said negative resistance elements and transmitted through said transmission path to the signal elements one after another; and means connected in series with said source of the bias voltage between the contacts on said first blocks and the contacts on said third blocks for detecting the level of current condition therebetween.
 19. The combination defined in claim 18 wherein said first and second layers are doped to provide ray-sensitive properties so as to provide for signal generation in response to being subjected to irradiation.
 20. The combination defined in claim 19 further including a switching signal generator connected to the contacts secured to each of said first blocks and a signal detector connected to the contacts secured to said third blocks.
 21. The combination defined in claim 20 wherein the contacts on each of said first blocks form a part of an integral metal strip extending in zigzag fashion from one of said first blocks to the others, said switching signal generator being connected to one end of said metal strip.
 22. The combination defined in claim 20 wherein each of the contacts on said first blocks is in the form of a serpentine metal strip extending across the surface of the blocks, said switching signal generator being connected to one end of said strip.
 23. The combination defined in claim 18 wherein said areas between the contacts on said first and second blocks are doped to provide luminescence in response to applied voltage.
 24. The combination defined in claim 23 further including a switching signal generator connected to the contacts secured to each of said first blocks, and a control signal generator connected to the contacts secured to said third blocks.
 25. The combination defined in claim 24 wherein the contacts on each of said first blocks form a part of an integral metal strip extending in zigzag fashion from one of said first blocks to the others, said switching signal generator being connected to one end of said metal strip.
 26. The combination defined in claim 24 wherein each of the contacts on said first blocks is in the form of a serpentine metal strip extending across the surface of the block, said switching signal generator being connected to one end of said strip. 